General
frog strangler
What does frog strangler mean?
An extremely heavy, sudden downpour; a vivid Gulf-states term for torrential rain.
"We got caught in a real frog strangler on the way home."
Origin
Southern US, especially the Gulf states and lower Mississippi Valley; the hyperbolic image is of rain deep enough to drown amphibians.
Frequently asked questions
What does frog strangler mean?
It's a colorful term for an extremely heavy, sudden downpour, exaggerated as rain deep enough to drown a frog.
Where does the term frog strangler come from?
It's Southern US slang, especially from the Gulf states and lower Mississippi Valley.
Is frog strangler the same as toad strangler?
Yes, they're close kin, both hyperbolic Southern terms for a torrential rainstorm.
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